Quick answer: if you are a foreigner in China and need medical care, start by deciding whether your case is urgent. For emergencies, call 120 or go directly to the emergency department. For non-urgent care, choose between a public hospital, a private international hospital, or a specialist clinic based on language support, insurance, wait time, and budget.
1. How the Hospital System Works
Most foreigners will encounter three common care settings in China: large public hospitals, private international hospitals, and specialty clinics. Each has tradeoffs.
| Option | Best for | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Public tertiary hospitals | Complex cases, specialist departments, advanced diagnostics, major surgery | High clinical capacity, lower fees than private hospitals, but more registration steps and less English support. |
| Private international hospitals | English-speaking care, direct billing, family medicine, maternity, routine specialty visits | More familiar experience for expats, usually higher prices, often easier insurance handling. |
| Specialty clinics | Dental care, physiotherapy, dermatology, eye care, checkups, vaccinations | Convenient for focused services, but serious or complex conditions may still need referral to a hospital. |
2. What To Do in an Emergency
For a medical emergency in mainland China, call 120 for an ambulance. In many cities, the operator may have limited English, so ask a Chinese-speaking friend, hotel staff, workplace contact, or bystander to help if possible.
- For chest pain, stroke symptoms, severe breathing trouble, major trauma, heavy bleeding, or loss of consciousness, do not wait for a routine appointment.
- Carry your passport or a photo of your passport, insurance card, allergies, medication list, and emergency contact details.
- If you have international insurance, contact the assistance hotline as soon as practical after stabilizing the emergency.
3. How To Register at a Chinese Hospital
The exact process differs by city and hospital, but the usual flow is similar:
- Choose the department, such as internal medicine, orthopedics, dermatology, ophthalmology, cardiology, or emergency.
- Register with passport information or a hospital patient card.
- Pay the registration or consultation fee.
- See the doctor and receive orders for tests, imaging, prescriptions, or follow-up.
- Pay for each service before receiving the test, scan, medicine, or procedure unless your hospital has a different billing arrangement.
Many public hospitals use WeChat, Alipay, hospital apps, and self-service kiosks. Foreign passports can sometimes make online registration harder, so in-person registration or coordinator support may be needed.
4. Public vs Private Hospitals
Public hospitals are often the strongest option for serious specialist care. Private hospitals are often easier for foreigners when the priority is English communication, predictable scheduling, insurance support, and a more familiar service model.
- You need a senior specialist in a major department.
- You need advanced imaging, complex surgery, oncology, cardiology, neurology, or transplant-related evaluation.
- You can handle more administrative steps or have someone to help with translation.
- You need English-speaking front desk and clinical support.
- Your insurer supports direct billing there.
- Your case is routine, urgent but not life-threatening, or needs family medicine continuity.
5. Insurance and Payment
In many Chinese hospitals, patients pay deposits or pay for each service before it is performed. Private hospitals may offer direct billing if your insurer has a relationship with the facility.
- Confirm whether your insurance covers mainland China.
- Ask whether the hospital supports direct billing or whether you must pay first and claim reimbursement later.
- Keep every receipt, invoice, diagnosis note, prescription, discharge summary, and test report.
- For planned treatment, request a written cost estimate before committing.
6. What To Bring
- Passport and visa or residence permit details.
- Insurance card and assistance hotline.
- Medication list, including dose and frequency.
- Known allergies and major medical history.
- Recent test results, imaging files, pathology reports, and discharge summaries.
- A Chinese address and phone number if available.
- A translation app, WeChat, and a payment method that works in China.
7. Useful Chinese Phrases
Even a few phrases can reduce stress at reception, pharmacy, or triage. We built a separate printable phrase page for the most common hospital moments.
8. When To Get Help From a Coordinator
You may not need a coordinator for a simple cold, minor rash, or routine prescription. Support becomes more valuable when a case involves complex records, specialist selection, surgery planning, cancer treatment, second opinions, language barriers, or insurance paperwork.
China Hospitals Guide can help international patients compare suitable hospitals, prepare records, understand likely costs, and plan the next step before travel or appointment booking.
FAQ
Can foreigners use public hospitals in China?
Yes. Foreigners can generally use public hospitals, but registration rules, payment methods, and English support vary by hospital and city.
Do Chinese hospitals accept international insurance?
Some private international hospitals and selected public hospital international departments may support direct billing. Many hospitals require payment first, then reimbursement through your insurer.
Is English widely spoken in Chinese hospitals?
English support is more common in private international hospitals and major city international departments. It is less predictable in ordinary public hospital departments.
What number should I call for an ambulance in China?
Call 120 for medical emergencies in mainland China.